2 BULLETIN 544, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



England, the Continent of Europe, and the West Indies, where it was 

 classed as a construction timber. Not until considerably later, 

 however, did it assume a place of importance in the general market 

 for carpentry and building use. When the supply of virgin white 

 pine in New England declined, spruce was turned to as a substitute. 

 Since 1840 the use of spruce as a lumber wood has steadily increased 

 both in the domestic and foreign markets. Its rise as a raw material 

 in the production of paper dates from about 1870 to 1875, although 

 it was not until 1890 or 1895 that its consumption for this purpose 

 became very important. 



The most extensive single use to which spruce is put now is the 

 making of paper, news stock, principally. Fully half the annual cut 

 of red spruce is consumed by the paper industry. 



Spruce is widely used in building and rough construction work, 

 particularly where it is not exposed to the weather. In floors it 

 wears better than white pine, but is inferior to many of the hard- 

 woods. It retains its natural color when finished better than white 

 pine, and it takes paint well. As interior finish it is employed for 

 stair work, ceiling, and door, sash, and casing material. It also is 

 made into shingles, siding, and laths, but as shingle material is con- 

 sidered inferior to many other woods. Large quantities are cut into 

 joists, large dimension stuff, and car stock, since for its weight it is 

 one of the strongest woods on the market. After being given pre- 

 servative treatment to hinder decay it is employed for wharf and 

 bridge piles, railroad ties, posts, and poles. 



On accoimt of the resonant quality of the wood, its even structure, 

 the absence of vessels, the extremely fine and regularly distributed 

 medullary rays, and the straight and long fibers spruce is generally 

 considered to be the best wood for piano sounding boards, as well 

 as for wooden musical instruments generally. For this purpose the 

 wood must be of selected quality. It must be straight fibered and 

 free from knots, and must have narrow and uniform rings and but 

 little resin. 



Spruce belongs to the class of tasteless woods, and for .that reason 

 is extensively used for containers in which articles of food are packed 

 or handled, such as tubs, firkins, butterworkors, churns, fish barrels, 

 and boxes and crates for vegetables and fruit. It is likewise in 

 demand for boxes in which cans and bottles of salad and other table 

 oils are packed for shipment. 



Recently spruce has come into general use in the manufacture of 

 airplanes. The wood meets satisfactorily the requirements of this 

 industry, which domands lightness combined with strength and, 

 above all, reliability, including freedom from hidden defects. It is 

 used both for the upright posts and the general framework. 



